Sealing current terminator for inhibiting oxidation and methods therefor

Abstract

Methodologies and structure are provided for use in a communications line that transmit data without plain old telephone service (POTS), or splits the POTS service from the data service, to inhibit oxidation of electrical connections within the physical communications line between the central office of a service provider and a subscriber premises and / or subscriber equipment. A direct current load is drawn by a sealing current terminator circuit that is electrically coupled across the communications line at a convenient location proximate or within the subscriber's location so as to assist in providing oxidation reducing direct current flow along a portion of the communications loop coupling the service provider with the subscriber.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The present invention relates generally to methods and apparatus for inhibiting oxidation in a communications line. More particularly, the present invention concerns the provision of circuitry including a sealing current terminator at or near a subscriber's premise that assists in maintaining communication line connections by inhibiting oxidation.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]Plain old telephone systems (POTS) have been in use for some time and, because of their relatively low operating frequency, operate very compatibly with more recently introduced, concurrently provided, Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line (ADSL) service. More recently, however, Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) service has been proposed to be provided exclusively over the communications lines previously shared with POTS service. This, so-called, “data without POTS” service continues to work well using the same communications lines previously shared with POTS service; however certain iss...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]Various features and aspects of the present invention relate to a method for reducing oxidation in a data without POTS environment in efficient and practical ways without resorting to reinstatement of full switch loop signaling. Another advantage of certain embodiments of the present invention relates to an in-line sealing current terminator that may be easily installed by a subscriber.

[0009]One particular aspect of certain embodiments of the present invention relates to a circuit such as a printed circuit board supporting a plurality of components that collectively provide sealing current termination circuitry for a communications line and, at the same time, minimize loading effects on any data signal such as a DSL signal transmitted on the communications line.

Problems solved by technology

This, so-called, “data without POTS” service continues to work well using the same communications lines previously shared with POTS service; however certain issues may arise from the provision of exclusively DSL service over previously shared communications lines that were not present when POTS service was also provided over the same communications lines.

In the newly emerging environment of “data without POTS” service, absence of the previously concurrently available switched loop signaling DC creates a problem in that the mechanical splices will oxidize over a period of time and create contact problems since the low-level data signals occurring in data without POTS service do not carry enough direct current to properly inhibit oxidation.

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